A circle cuts a chord of length 4a on the x-axis and passes through a point on the y-axis, distant 2b from the origin. Then the locus of the center of this circle, is:
(A)a hyperbola
(B)an ellipse
(C)a straight line
(D)a parabola✓ Correct
Answer: (D)
Solution
Let the centre be (h,k) with radius r. The chord cut on the x-axis has length 4a, so its half-length 2a and the distance k from the centre to the axis satisfy k2+(2a)2=r2. The circle passes through (0,2b), so h2+(k−2b)2=r2. Equating, h2+(k−2b)2=k2+4a2, which reduces to h2=4bk−4b2+4a2. Replacing (h,k) by (x,y), the locus is x2=4(by−b2+a2), a parabola.
JEE Main · 2019 · 11 Jan 2019 · Shift 2 · Single correct option